A terrorist involved in extortion was killed in an exchange of fire with the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on the outskirts of Peshawar on Wednesday.
Additionally, five extortionists were also arrested in the intelligence-based operation.
According to police sources, the police and CTD recently intensified their focus on the financial activities of terrorists and launched a crackdown on gangs involved in extorting money from the public and traders in the province.
The CTD received information that a group was actively demanding extortion from local wealthy people in the outskirts of Peshawar, prompting an investigation.
“The group was eventually located and a police party was dispatched to the Telaband area.
The members of the gang were asked to surrender, but they opened fire on the police.
In the ensuing exchange of fire, one terrorist was killed, while five others were arrested.
At least two or three of the suspects managed to escape,” said a police official while talking to The Express Tribune.
The slain terrorist was identified as Suliman Shah, while the arrested suspects were identified as Waqifullah, Qareebullah, Mizar Khan, Khan, and Hakim Saeed, all of whom are Afghan nationals.
The group was involved in at least 22 extortion cases and used Afghan SIM cards to make threatening calls.
According to the police official, the group recently demanded Rs5 million from Imtiaz, a local resident of Urmar.
When he refused to pay the money, the accused attacked his brick kilns with a hand grenade.
The slain and arrested terrorists are said to be active members of the TTP.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2023.
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